Automatic turning device.



1217/651 164/19- we 0AA" M. A. POSSONS. AUTOMATIC TURNING DEVXCE.

- APPLICATION FILED mnym. 1913.

1,1 21 ,395. Patented Dec. 15, 1914 8 SHEETS-S HEET 1.

M. A. POSSONS.

AUTOMATIC TURNING DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY14,191'3. 1,121,395. Patented Dec.15,1914.

EBHEETS-SHBET 2.

M. A. POSSONS AUTOMATIC TURNING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY14.1913.

Patefited Dec. 15, 1914.

3 8KEETS-SHEET 3.

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424 wwheooeo .wrrnn srrrrss; Parent 1 enric ELI-NARI) .A. POSSONS, 01?. CLEVELAND, OHM).

AUTOMATIC TURNING DEVICE.

am nes.

To all whom it may concern 'Be it known that I, MIN/HID ApPoesons, a citizen of the United States, residingat Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and 9ytate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Turnin Devices, of which the following is Y a speci .eation, reference being had. therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile turning devices.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for automobiles, whereby the wardly and raising the front wh eel olf the ground the necessary distance, While the drivingor turning means is 1n full control of the operator.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effective device of this character and having certain details of constructure and operation hereinmore fully set forth. V

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view -showing the front axle in cross-section and showing my improved turning device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrow and shown partlyin section. Fig. is a diagrammatical view showing the turning of the automobile. Fig. t is a vertical sectiona'l viewof the transmission for driving the raising and lowering shaft and theturning shaft, and showing the automatic reversing and stopping mechanism for the raising and lowering the turning wheel.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on.the line 55 of Fig- 4. Fig; 6 is a perspective view of the gear controlling lever. Fig' 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the latch for locking the turning wheel in its lowered position.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents the front axle of an automobile which Specification of Letters Ratent.

Patentedbec. 15, 19-14.

' Application flied July 14. 1913. Serial No. 779,632.

is of-the usual I-heam form and to which my improvedturning device is attached.

2 repnescnts a plate having at its center the inwardly extending annular portion 3,

which enters the channel of the axle 1. This portion 3, on its upper and lower faces 4, is coneaved and into which fits the wedges 5 and 6, having their outer faces provided with teeth 7 ,which are adapted to bite into 5 the metal of the axle and rigidly lock the plate to the same. The teeth, as shown face outwardly so as to prevent the outward movement of the plate and also preventing any longitudinal movement of the plate in re- 7 spect to the axle. The plate 2 is of a circular form and is provided with an opening 8 therethrough, which communicates with the enlarged opening 9 in the annular portion 3. Surrounding the plate 2, is a housing 10,

which is provided with an inwardly extending stud 11, entering the opening 9, and has a nut 12 screwed thereon within the en larged opening 9, whereby the housing 10 is free to rotate on the plate. 10 has a gear 10 therein having an inwardly extending annular flange 13, fitting between leather washers 14 and 15, carried by the plate 2, and said washers held against the flange by means of the ring 16, screwed upon 5 the plate 2, whereby the frictional contact between the same may be varied as desired.

The housing 10 carries at one side the vertically disposed elongated hollowportion 17, carrying at its lower end the enlarged annular housing 18, in which is arranged the horizontally disposed worm-gear 19. This worm bears against a plate 20 forming a ball-race for the ball bearings 21, and said balls also bearing against the ring 22- in the housing 18, whereby the upward thrust of the worm gear 1.9."s taken up, yet allowing of the free rotation thereof. The upper face of the worm gear is provided with teeth 19, which engage the gear 10, whereby the rotation of the gear causes the housing to rotate, but when the same is engaged by the lug 32, the flange 13 slips between the washers and will allow the continued rotation of the worm gear. The said worm is provided with a central threaded opening 23 through which passes the screw-rod 2 1,

and which extends upwardly within the housing 17. The housing 18, at one edge, is

enlarged and in which is rotatably mounted the worm 25, meshing with the worm gear 19. This worm is provided with a flexible- The housing 30 shaft 26, which isoperated, as will be hereinafter more fully described and by means of which the worm gear 19 is rotated. and by means of which the rod 24 is raised or lowered for the purpose hereinafter more fully described. The said rod is provided with a longitudinallyextending groove 52?, into which extends a locking pin 28. which is operated by the transverse pin 29, which ex"- tends out beyond the housing 10 and enters a recess 30 carried by the axle or by the stationary plate 2, whereby the housing 10 is locked in the position shown in Fig. l, and the operation of this lock will be hereinafter more fully described in giving the full op eration of the device. The. pin 29 is held in its inward position by means of the spring 29 of Fig.

The lower end of the screw-rod 24- is provided with a fork 31, in which is mounted the wheel 32, by means of the pintle or axle 33, which is rigidly mounted in the lower end of the fork. The said wheel is formed of a hollow form with oneside cut away, as indicated at 3-, and. is provided with a solid rubber tire 35. The inner periphery of the rim of the wheel is provided with gear teeth 36, with which meshes the pinion 3 This pinion 37 is mounted in a frame or plate 37, carried by the fork 31, and is driven by means of the flexible shaft 38, which is driven by the same means as the shaft 526,

and which will be later described. The

shafts 26 and 38 extend to the gear case 39 provided with. two loose gears and 43,- mcshing with the gears 40 and 41. Entering the lower end oi the casing 39 is a shaft 44 carrying a gear 45, meshing with gears 42 and 43, and continuously driving the same and the gears 40 and 41 meshing with the gears 42 and 43 are likewise continuously rotated. The gears 40 and 41, as heretofore stated, are loosely mounted upon the shaft 20, and between said gears and key upon the shaft is a doubled face friction gear 46, having beveled faces 47 and 48 engaging the beveled walls 6f the recesses 49 and 50 of the gears-+10 and 41 The distance betaveen the beveled faces 47 and 48 ofthe gear 47 is less than the distance between the beveled walls of the recesses 49 and 50, whereby the said gear can only frictionally' engage one of the gears 40 and 41 at a time. The gear 46 is provided with a central annular recess 51, into which the reverse lever passes, as will belater described. The gear 46 has a longitudinal ol' ening therethrough and through which loosely passes the screw threaded rod 53. and mounted on said rod is a scrmv-nut 54 having its outer periphery in the form of a star-wheel, Passing through the casing 39 is a screw 55, which is adapted to engage the star-wheel and turn it one point during each revolution of the gear as by theshaft 26. This operation causes the rod 53 to travel within the opening in th gear and engage the wall of the recesses Ctllried by the gears 40 and 41 and causes the gear to disengage the gears 42 and 4 3, for stopping the rotation of the shaft 26, and whereby the shaft is driven a predetermined number of rotations in each direction. The shaft is also provided with a double faced ear 56 havin beveled en a in faces 5? t 7 to 3 8'" b and 58, adapted to engage the beveled faces of tho-recesses 58 and (50 of the gears 42 and 43, and said gear is of a length less than the distance between the recess so that both hereled faces of the gears 42 and 48 cannot be in engagement at the same time. The gear 56 is provided With an annular groove 61 for the reverse or control lever 62, which it will now proceed to describe. This control lever 62 is pivoted at 63 to the outside of the cas ing and slidably mounted on said casing are blocks 64 and 65, which have recesses 66 and 67 into which the lever is adapted to pass, The said blocks having studs extending through slots in the casing and carrying bifurcated arms 68, and 69, which are adapted to fit into the annular grooves carried by the gears 46 and 56, whereby they may be moved into engagement with the gears for driving the shafts 26 and 38, as will be here inatter fully described. The forked lever 31, of the rod 24, is provided with a book 31, which is adapted to hook over a ,pin'32', carried by the axle, whereby the device is held in a horizontal position when not irnuse and the operation of which will befliereinafter more fully described. 1 i r i The shaft 44'is driven from the engine driving the automobile or may be driven by an auxiliary engine of any character and 1s" controlled by a lever located at any conv'en ient point adjacent the drivers seat, whereby the gear 45 carried by the shaft 44 may be driven, as heretofore stated.

The operation of my .device is as follows: The shaft 44 is set in operation by any means, as above stated, which in turn rotates the beveled gear 45 and sets in operation the gears 42 43, 40 and 41. i The doubled faced friction gear 46 being in'the position shown in Fig. 4,,the gear 41 drives the gear is which in turn rotates the shaft 26 and" through the medium of the worm 2.3. tin. worm gear 19 causes the screw-threadcd rod to travel in the. direction of the arrow,

Fig. 2, to cause the hookfil to disengage gear 46 to travel to the right and the device from the pin 32, carried by the rear face of is brought to a standstill. The shaft 44, the axle 1. After the hook 3l'is disengaged after this operation, is stopped by means of irom the pin 32, the teeth carried by the the controlling lever, and the automobile. upper face of the worm-gear 19 engage. the is ready to travel in the ordinary manner. 70 teeth 33 carried by the disk 13 and cause the Having thus described my invention, what housing'll) to swing downwardly around on I claim and de ".re to secure by Letters Patthe member 2. By the time the screw-rod ent isi 24 has reached a vertical position, the pin 28 1. The combination with a vehicle, of a 10 has reached the end of the slot 27 and has swinging and vertically movable wheel be- 7 caused the sliding member latch 29 to lock tween the forward wheels of the vehicle, the same in a position to prevent the hous- ,meuns for vertically moving the wheel ing 10 from swinging in either direction. downwar ly for raising the forward end of The continued rotation of the shaft :26 the vehicle from the ground, automatic causes the screw rod 24 to force the wheel 32 ineansfor stopping thesaid. vertically movagainst the ground and raise the forward able means, and means for rotating the said wheels of the automobile from the ground. wheel. A By the time this has taken place, the nut 54 2. The combination with a vehicle, of a by its I engagement with the rod has swinging and horizontally and vertically caused the screw-rod. 53 to travel through movable wheel between the forward wheels the opening therein and engag e'the inner of the vehicle, means for swinging said face of the recess in the gear 4:1 and to force wheel in a vertical or horizontal position, the gear 42 to the left, so that the gear at automatic means for limiting the vertical will remain at a standstill. After this operand swinging movement of said wheel and 5 ation has taken place the lever 62 is moved means for rotating said wheel, substantially in a direction to-cause the friction gear 56 to as shown and described. engage either the gear or a3 and thus The combination with a vehicle of a lock the same to theshaft 38 through the wheel secured to the forward axle thereof gear 56. This lockingot either of the gears and vertically and horizontally movable 4,5 gage the gear 420., This causes the shaft 26 hicle, a housing rotatable on said plate, a

. 5 gage t 30 5 2 or to the gear 56 causes the shaft 38 to means for-vertically and horizontally movrotate, and through the medium of the gear ing said wheel to raise the forward end of 37 and teeth 36 carried by the wheel 32 the the vehicle from the ground, means for ro-. same is rotated which swings the vehicle .tating'said wheel and a single operating around as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the means for swinging and rotating the wheel. drawing. This movement is either to the l. The combination with a vehicle, of a 1 0 right or to the left by causing thegear 56 to plate secured to the forward end of the mesh with either the gear 42oz." 43. vehicle, a housing rotatably mounted on The screw-rod 53 after the vehicle has said plate, a wheel carried by the lower end been raised from the ground extends beyond of said housing and vertically movable 40 the right h impossible to throw the gear lllto the right. and means for vertically moving the wheel The lever 6:2 is moved into engagement with in the housing and rotating the same. the block carrying the bifurcated arm 69 5. The combination with a vehicle, of a and the gear46 is moved to the left to enplate secured to the forward end of'the. ve-

to rotatein the opposite direction from that rod vertically movable in said hous ng, heretofore described. This operation causes means for moving said rod in-the housing, the screw-rod 2st to be drawn upwardly until i a wheel carried by the lower end of the the lock pin drops intothe elongated said" rod, means for rotating said wheel,-

50 groove 27 and the latch releases the housand means for moving the rod upwardly 1w ing 30; Thecontinued rotation of the shaft within the housing and swing ng the hous- 26, through the medium of the worm 19 and ing around in a horizontal position. 4 its teeth mcslhing with the gear 33, causes 6. lhe combination with a vehicle, of a the housing to be drawn upwardly in a housing rotatably supported thereby, a rod.

55 horizontal position. At the same time the vertically movable within the housing, a screw-rod Q/l is traveling upwardly. After wheel carried by the lower end of said rod, the rod 24rhas traveled up in a horizontal means for vertically moving the rod within position and engages the pin 32, the gear the housing and simultaneously oscillating 33 slips between the washers carried by the housing, a wheel carried by the lower co the plate 2 and the rod 2% is drawn in end of the rod and means for rotating sai wvardly so that the book 31 is over the pin wheel.

By the time this operation has taken 7. The combination of a vehicle, of a place. the screw-rod 53 through the nut housing rotatably mounted on the forward anrltne pin 55 has traveled to the left to en end of the vehicle, a rod vertically movable he gear as and causing the friction in said housing, means foroscillating the and end or the gear 46, thus it is therein, means for rotating said housing, 105

housing and simultaneously moving the rod within the housing a predetermined distance, a wheel carried by the lower end. of the rod and means for operating said wheel.

8. The combination with a vehicle, of a housing rotatably mounted in the forward end of the vehicle, a rod vertically movable in the housing, means for oscillating the housing and simultaneously moving the rod in 'ihc housing, automatic means for controliing' the movement of the housing and the rod. and wheel carried by the lower end of the rod and means for rotating said wheel.

9. The combination with a vehicle, of a housing rotatably mounted on the forward end of the vehicle, of a rod vertically movable in said housing, a worm gear for raising and lowering said rod in the housing, means carried by the worm for oscillating the housing on the vehicle, a wheel carried by the lower end oi? the rod and means for rotating saidwheel.

10. The combination with a vehicle, of a housing rotatably mounted on the forward end of the vehicle, a rod vertically movable in said housing, a worm-gear surrounding the rod and having threads meshing with the threads of the rod, means for rotating the worm, whereby the rod is moved vertically within the housing, means carried by the worm for rotating the housing on the vehicle automatic means for controlling the oscillating movement of the housing and also the vertical movement of the rod, :1 wheel carried by the lower end of the rod, and a gear meshing with the Wheel and opcrating the wheel, substantially as shown and described.

11. The combination with a vehicle, of a housing rotatably mounted on the forward end of the vehicle, a catch adapted to lock the said housing in a vertical position, a rod passing through the housing, a worm-gear surrounding the rod within the housing and having the threads meshing with the threads on. the rods, a worm rotating said worm gear, teeth carried by the upper face of the worm-gear, and meshing with teeth carried by a frictionally held gear, a wheel carried by the-lower end of the rod and means for rotating said wheel, substantially as shown and described.

12. The combination with the frontjaxle of a ehicle, of a plate removably held thereon. a housing surrounding the plate, a vertically movable rod within the housing, means within the housing for oscillating the same and vertically moving the rod therein a predetermined distance, a wheel carried by the lower end of the rod, and means for rotating said wheel.

13. The combination with the front axle of a vehicle, of a plate rcmovabl v secured .thereto, a housing surrounding the plate, a

rod vertically movable in the housing, means for moving the rod within the housing, a latch operated by the vertical movement of the rod for locking the housing in a vertical position, means operated by the rod operating means for oscillating the housing, a wheel carried by the lower end of the rod and means for, rotating said rod.

14. The combination with a vehicle having a front axle, of the I-beam form, a

plate having a stud projecting within the; channel of the I-beam and curved upper and lower faces, wedges having correspondingly curved faces to fit the same and having teeth on their outer faces to engage the flanges of the I-beam from wedging and gripping the I-beam axle, a housing carried by the plate and rotatable thereon, a vertically movable member within the housing, means for moving the member vertically v. ithin the housing and oscillating the same, a wheel carried by the lower end M said vertical movable member, and means for rotating said wheel in either direction.

within the housing and carrymg a wheel at its. lower end, a gearing adjacent the hous' mg, means driven by-said gearing for vertically moving said, .rod and swinging the housing around; and automatic means carried by the gearing for reversing the direction of movement of the gearing for the pur pose described.

17. The combination with a vehicle, of a vertically movable and'horizontally pivoted wheel supported member carried by-the forward endof the vehicle, a gearing adjacent said member, automatic means operated by the movement of the gearing for raisihg and lowering the said member, substantially as shown anddescribed, Y

' 18. The combination with a vehicle; of a vertically movable and horizontally ivoted wheel carrying member supported by the forward end of the vehicle, a gearing adjacent the said member, automatic moans operated by the gearing for reversing the direction of movement "of the wheel supis moved automatically; into and out Of its operative position.

19. The combination with a vehicle, -of a housing rotatably mounted on thsforward porting member, whereby the said member end of 'the vehicle, a rod longitudinhlly' movable within the said housing, a wheel carried by the lower end of the said rod, means for positively moving said rod longitudinally within the housing, frictional means for oscillating the housing, means for driving the wheel in either direction, and automatic "means for reversing the direction of movement of the rod operating means.

20. The combination with a vehicle, of 'a wheel supported member horizontally pivoted and vertically movably supported by the vehicle, a gear case adjacent said wheel supported member, a shaft extending through said gear casing, two gears mount- 'ed on said shaft, a beveled gear positively turning said loosely mounted gears, a frictional' gear between the loosely mounted gears and adapted to engage either of said I looselyv mounted gears, said frictional gear keyed upon the shaft, a rod loosely passing through the said frictional gear, a nnton said rod and having its outer periphery gear casin and engaging the teeth ofsaid nut, where y the rod travels through the frictional gear and engages the loosely mounted gears to disengage the frictional gear therefrom, whereby the shaft supportprovided withteeth, a pin carried by the ing the frictional gear is driven first in one direction and then the other, for raising and lowering 'the wheel supported member; v 21. The combination with a vehicle, of a wheel supported member, horiaontally pivoted and vertically and longitudinally, movable, a gear case adjacent the said wheel'g); supported member, two shafts loosely mounted in said gear case, one of said shafts adapted to rotate the wheel, the other shaft adapted to oscillate and longitudinally move the Wheel supported member, two gears loosely mounted upon each shaft within the housing, a bevel gear for driving the two loosely mounted gears upon the lower shaft, saidloosely mounted gears meshing with the loosely mounted gears of the upper shaft, automatic means for driving the upper shaft a predetermined number of rotations in one direction and automatically reversing the same and driving it the same number of rotations in the opposite direction, and a controlling lever for said gearing. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 55

MINARD A. POSSONS.

Witnesses:

F. T. BA'rcHELoR, E. A. Sonnnmnm 

